April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

April is sexual assault awareness month.We hope you will join us at The Center for Holistic Healing for these free community events designed with support and awareness in mind.

We are looking forward to seeing you soon!

Take Back the Night Friday, April 7, 7 pm- 9ish pm: This is a time-honored event that began in 1975, which involves a march raising awareness of the unfair idea that women should not walk home alone after dark.At this event, we will begin with Valarie Snell, LCSW speaking about the history of sexual assault awareness month, the history of take back the night, and how to support loved ones who have been sexually assaulted. We will then have a local musician play a few songs to ground and/ or empower participants. Then we will do a short, walking, silent candle-lit-vigil through the near-by neighborhood to honor sexual assault survivors. On return to the center, there will be a “speak-out”. This is an open-mike type setting in which anyone can say anything they are moved to say. Through-out the event, there will be art work either by survivors of sexual assault or honoring survivors of sexual assault.

Poetry Reading & Tea HouseFriday, April 28, 7pm-9ish: This event is modeled after coffee house type poetry readings (but not poetry slams), with a sexual assault awareness theme. There will be a variety of teas and homemade baked goods. We invite you to bring your own poetry to read, or we will have many poems to choose from on hand, that you may read. Also, you are welcome to just come and listen to some very empowering words being read.

For both events, there will be a mental health therapist on hand, if anyone needs to speak to her.